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The University of Utah Athletics
Utah Football Team Opens Spring Camp This Week
3/24/2003 12:00 AM | Football
March 24, 2003
SALT LAKE CITY -
UTES OPEN SPRING CAMP THIS WEEK
First-year head Utah football coach Urban Meyer and the Utes will open their 2003 spring camp this Thursday at the Thomas Kearns McCarthey Practice Fields. The four-week training session will run from Mar. 27-Apr. 19. The spring training will conclude with a Red-White game in Rice-Eccles Stadium on Saturday, Apr. 19. Practices, scrimmages and the Red-White game are open to the public.CAMP COUNTDOWN
Head Coach Urban Meyer will run his team through 15 total days of drills, with scrimmages designated for Apr. 5 and 12 and the Red-White game on Apr. 19. The first two days of camp, Mar. 27-28, will consist of non-tackling drills. The first day of tackling is Saturday, Mar. 29. Most weekday practices will start at 3 p.m., while Saturday's practices will start at 9:40 a.m.LOCATION, LOCATION
Most weekday practices will be held at the McCarthey Practice Fields. Saturday practices and scrimmages will usually take place at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Please check with the sports information office at 581-3511 for daily updates.SNEAK PREVIEW
Ute fans can get a sneak preview of Meyer's spread offense, as well as the Ute defense, at the Red-White game on Saturday, Apr. 19. The spring game will be coached by defensive coordinator Kyle Whittingham and offensive coordinator Mike Sanford. It will start at noon in Rice-Eccles Stadium and is free of charge the public.INTERVIEW POLICIES
All interviews with Head Coach Urban Meyer, his staff and players must be arranged through Assistant Athletics Director Liz Abel. Abel can be reached at 581-3511 and she will attend every practice. Interviews with players and coaches will take place after practice. Reporters seeking interviews with Coach Meyer at a time other than immediately following practice must make arrangements through Abel.HEAD COACH URBAN MEYER
Urban Meyer begins his first year as Utah's head coach after an impressive two-year stint at Bowling Green. Meyer led BGSU to a 17-6 record in two years and engineered the biggest turnaround in NCAA Division I football as a first-year head coach in 2001. The 2001 Mid America Conference Coach of the Year went 5-0 against Bowl Championship Series teams in his time at BG, and his 2002 Falcon team was ranked in the top 25 for five weeks. In leading BGSU to a 9-3 record last season, Meyer's offense finished third in the country in scoring, averaging 40.8 yards per game. Prior to his successful head coaching start at BGSU, Meyer served assistantships at Notre Dame (1996-2000), Colorado State (1990-95), Illinois State (1988-89) and Ohio State (1986-87).SPRING SCHEDULE
Weather permitting, Utah's schedule is as follows. Please note that heavy rain or snow could cause practice to be moved to another day. Check with the sports information office at 581-3511 for daily practice schedule updates.Thursday, Mar. 27 (no pads) 3:00-5:20 p.m.Friday, Mar. 28 (no pads) 3:00-5:20 p.m.Saturday, Mar. 29 (tackling) 9:40 a.m.-noon
Monday, Mar. 31 (tackling 3:00-5:20 p.m.Thursday, Apr. 3 (tackling 3:00-5:20 p.m.Friday, Apr. 4 (no tackling 3:00-5:15 p.m.Saturday, Apr. 5 (scrimmage 9:40 a.m.-noon
Monday, Apr. 7 (no tackling 3:00-5:20 p.m.Wednesday, Apr. 9 (tackling 3:00-5:20 p.m.Friday, Apr. 11 (no tackling 3:00-5:20 p.m.Saturday, Apr. 12 (scrimmage 9:40 a.m.-noon
Monday, Apr. 14 (no tackling 3:00-5:20 p.m.Wednesday, Apr. 16 (tackling 3:00-5:20 p.m.Friday, Apr. 18 (no pads) 2:55-5:45 p.m.Saturday, Apr. 19 (Red-White Game) 12:00-2:00 p.m.
STAFF CHANGES
All but two full-time coaches are new to Utah this spring. Key among the newcomers is head coach Urban Meyer, who compiled a 17-6 record in two years at Bowling Green before taking the Utah job on Dec. 12, 2002. Meyer's staff consists of defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Kyle Whittingham, in his 10th year at Utah; offensive coordinator/running backs coach Mike Sanford, most recently the offensive coordinator at Stanford; assistant head coach/offensive guards and centers coach Brent Myers, the offensive line coach at Washington for the past three years; defensive ends coach Kurt Barber from Kent State; defensive backs coach Bill Busch, in his third year at Utah; wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales from Bowling Green; offensive tackles/tight ends coach John Hevesy from Bowling Green; quarterbacks coach Dan Mullen from Bowling Green and Mike Tuiasosopo from Nevada.MEYER'S SCHEMES
Utah will run a spread offense and 4-3 defense in 2003. While the defensive scheme will remain unchanged from the previous regime, the offensive style is significantly different. Head Coach Urban Meyer's offensive scheme employs a lot of shotgun and no-huddle scenarios. His quarterback is a threat to throw and run and there is one tailback. His 3-4 receiver lineup can include a tight end who acts as a receiver.CAPSULE OUTLOOK
Thirty-eight lettermen return from a Utah team that went 5-6 in 2002 and tied for fifth in the Mountain West Conference with a 3-4 league mark. Eighteen lettermen return for the offense, 19 for the defense and one kicker. The Utes return six starters on offense, including running backs Marty Johnson and Brandon Warfield, who split starting duties, and five defensive starters.LOST AND FOUND
Meyer takes over a program minus one of just two consensus All-Americans ever at Utah, offensive lineman Jordan Gross, who graduated in December and is projected as an early first-round NFL draft pick. Joining Gross as first-team all-conference losses are free safety Antwoine Sanders and defensive lineman Garrett Smith. Utah returns one first-team all-conference player, senior defensive end Jason Kaufusi, a first-teamer for the past two years. Utes coming back who made the 2002 all-MWC second team are senior running back Brandon Warfield and senior strong safety Dave Revill.TRADING PLACES
Going into spring camp, two scholarship players have changed positions. Junior Tommy Hackenbruck, a former running back who saw limited playing time last year, has moved to linebacker. Junior Vic Smith will now play wide receiver after spending his first two years as a reserve defensive back.SPRING ACHES
Three Utes who will be in the depth chart come fall are unable to participate in any tackling drills in the spring due to off-season shoulder surgeries. They are all-conference senior defensive end Jason Kaufusi, junior tight end J.D. Jorgensen and senior cornerback Shayne Scruggs.PERSONNEL PICTURE
Offensive Starters Returning (6*)Brett Elliott, QB (6-3, 205, Jr.), Matt Hansen, TE (6-5, 245, Sr.), Thomas Herrion, OL (6-3, 315, Sr.), Marty Johnson* (6-0, 230, Sr.), Chris Kemoeatu, OL (6-4, 339, Jr.), Brandon Warfield*, RB (5-10, 210, Sr.). *split starting duties
Defensive Starters Returning (5)
Ray Holdcraft, LB (5-11, 242, Sr.), Jason Kaufusi, DE (6-3, 250, Sr.), Arnold Parker, DB (6-2, 210, Sr.), Dave Revill, DB (5-11, 205, Sr.), Josh Savage, DE (6-4, 276, Sr.).
Starting Kickers/Punters Returning (1)
Bryan Borreson (5-10, 191, So.).
REDSHIRTS RETURN
The following is a list of Utes in spring camp who redshirted last season or sat out as transfers from four-year colleges: Mark Arnold, LB; Mitch Arquette, OL; Brady Bahr, LB; Kylee Brown, WR; Blake Burdette, LB; Mike Eddy, OL; Casey Evans, DB; Anthony Fresques, DB; Rob Gueck, WR; Ford Hall, K; Shaun Harper, DB; Ryan Honea, WR; Marquess Ledbetter, DL; Jake Naylor, RB; Eric Pettit, OL; Steven Savoy, WR; Chris Sokugawa, QB; Spencer Toone, LB; Semisi Tupola, OL; Tavo Tupola, OL; Jason Voss, DL; Chet Wanlass, QB; Paris Warren, WR.NEW TO U.
Four newcomers are already registered for classes and will participate in spring drills. Back from a Mormon church mission is freshman linebacker Taylor Miller. A member of the 2002 signing class who did not enroll in school until this January is freshman offensive lineman Jason Boone. Two junior college additions who are already on campus are punter Matt Kovacevich and wide receiver Jerome Wright.MEYER SAYS
"Spring is critical to the players because this is when you earn your spots. During two-a-days (in August), you're trying to work on beating your first opponent. Now is the time to figure out the depth chart."We'll have a good idea of our two deep at most positions when spring ball is complete. As for the quarterbacks, all we've been able to do is watch film, so we need to see them throw and take some time to evaluate their strengths.
"This first week we'll work on practice tempo, learning how to practice together and installing the offense and kicking game.
"The attitude of the players is great. They are as anxious as the coaches to start practice. I think they're tired of just lifting and running. The reason they're here is to play, not to lift and run."
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